Marin Cilic Targets A Top 5 Ranking And A Grand Slam Title In 2017 – Good For Him!

Marin Cilic has his eye on bigger and better things. The Croat avoided another O’fer at the ATP Finals today coming from a set down to beat Kei Nishikori and win his first career match at the year-end championships in six tries.

Afterward, Cilic, declared he’s not satisfied with one Slam and a Top 10 ranking. He wants more!

“I definitely want to go get to the Top 5 next year,” said Cilic. “I was mentioning my goal is to win a Grand Slam. I feel I’m on a very good level. I’m very competitive with all of the guys.

“Definitely my mindset is very strong and very positive. I can’t be happier than to obviously get to this position, the way I played the last few months.”

Cilic finishes the season at a new career-high of No. 6. So he’s knocking on that door, and if top guys like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal continue their struggles in 2017, then it’s open season for anyone, Cilic especially since he’s already done it. (Who would have ever have believed Stan Wawrinka would win another Slam, let alone TWO more???)

The 28-year-old Cilic this year made a mark winning Cincinnati and also Basel, reaching the final at two other events. But he only had eight Grand Slam match wins and nearly all of is success came in the second half of 2016. So that means if he does well in Australia – where he’s made the semifinals – and puts together a good run at Indian Wells or Miami or later in Paris or Wimbledon, who knows?

Good for him for targeting the top of the sport.